m croscopeunder the - home - kettering science academy the microscope 14.pdf · happy easter! we...

Happy Easter!We would like to wish all pupils and their families a very happy Easter. Here is a small selection of the creative egg designs by primary pupils and staff – featuring Daniel Cr-egg in Fryfall, Lady Goo Goo, Harry Styles and SpongeBob Square/Round Pants.

Learning how to make dreams a reality

Terms 3-4 Newsletter 2013 Issue Fourteen

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AIMING HIGH & RAISING ASPIRATIONSThe drive to ensure all pupils and students are aiming high and reaching their full potential has continued in earnest.The secondary phase held its first University Week where students were invited to talks by graduates to give them a taste of studying a subject at degree level. The subjects covered included psychology, politics, economics and science and the talks proved to be popular with students, including some Year 8s.It was preceded by a University Information Day, which provided students and their families with the facts about student life, finances and what funding is available. There were also talks by law, engineering and media graduates.Almost all those who went along said they would be interested in attending similar events in the future and all said they would be interested in trips to universities.The events were organised by maths teacher Sophia Parkinson and English/media teacher Tom Preston. Miss Parkinson said: “I have been really impressed with the enthusiasm of pupils and how much they enjoyed the lectures. We were delighted with the turn out to the university information event – families asked lots of questions and seemed to find it useful. It’s given us lots of ideas about things we can do in the future.”

Daniel Warren in Year 10 went along to the university information morning and was particularly interested in the talk given by a law graduate. He said: “I was looking for reassurance for myself and my family that going to university is the right thing for me to do. After hearing about the job possibilities in law, it is now something I’m thinking about doing. Events like this give you more ambition and motivation to work harder because you realise how one or two grades can affect which university you go to.”There have been other projects going on to raise aspirations throughout the Academy. Older students have been attending open days and master classes at Russell Group universities, while in primary, pupils have been taking part in reading challenges to encourage them to read for pleasure.The Comenius project has opened up opportunities in the wider world for secondary students while showing them the benefits of learning a language. Our students have also

demonstrated entrepreneurial skills in their fundraising to take part in a volunteer project in Tanzania.The message of aspiration has been picked up by many students – demonstrated by one student who volunteered to give an assembly on the theme of inspirational people.

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Black ti e students

Letter from the Principal

For the past term it has been my pleasure to be the acting Principal of Kettering Science Academy. I have been delighted to be able to see it first-hand how

well the students are settling in to their new building. When we return after Easter the remaining work on the car park should be completed and the walk way between the primary school and the secondary school will

also be finished.However, although the building is complete, the school itself still has challenges which are ensuring that all students enjoy an education service that meets their needs and ensures that they can enter adult life with the best qualifications of which they are capable. I am pleased to say that this work will be led by the Academy’s new Principal, Mr Paul Davies, who will begin work in the new term.I am sure that he will more than rise to the challenge and I wish him well.

Sir Peter Simpson – Acting Principal

Issue Fourteen • Under the Microscope2

KETTERING ScIENcE AcAdEMy

dear Parents and Students

Letter from the chair of Governors

The move to the new building for the secondary phase is now complete and has been the focus of attention lately, but we shouldn’t forget the primary

building has also benefited from a much needed refurbishment. The parking and link area between the two buildings is currently under construction and will make a big difference logistically for us all when completed.Whilst KSA continues to make progress, we did not improve enough last year in the main measure which reports on students’ success in a number of courses, including both GCSE maths and English. The national and well-publicised issues around exam marking did not help and we did not meet the Department for Education’s minimum standard, but that said we also fell below our own expectations. Swift action has been taken and a balance struck between continuing with a steadily

improving experience and outcome for students in all years at KSA, with increased resource and pace focused on those in Year 11 sitting GCSE exams this year. The progress made here to date looks very promising and hopefully, for the sake of the students, examining bodies will take a more consistent approach this year.By the time you read this you should already know we have appointed a new Principal to KSA. Mr Paul Davies will have written to you to as a brief introduction and will be starting with us after the Easter break. Mr Davies comes to us with a great track record, latterly as Senior Vice Principal with North Birmingham Academy, where he was instrumental in sustained year-on-year improvements in levels of progress and examination results in all years. I am sure you will join me in wishing him well in his new role, giving him our full support. Finally, I would also like to thank Sir Peter Simpson and Dr Andrew Campbell for devoting their energies to KSA during the transition period between Principals.

Steve Barton

dear Parents and Students

If you would like to get in touch with any of KSA’s governors contact Heather Lindley, PA to Sir Peter Simpson, on [email protected] or by calling 01536 397000.

Follow KSA on TwitterKSA is now on Twitter so follow @KSAcademy1 for the latest news and events.The Academy will use Twitter to inform parents and the wider community of events and to share the achievements of our pupils through our news stories.It is a broadcast account only so if you need to contact the Academy, please continue to use the normal channels (phone or email).

contentsHouse Pages 4-5

Library News 6-7

Primary News 8-9

Nursery & Reception 10

Years 1-3 11

Years 4-6 12

French Trip 13

Science 14

Communications 15

Maths & I.T. 16

Art, Music & Industrial Design 17

Ethics, Humanities & Business 18

PE 19

Sixth Form 20

Next Steps 21

Academy News 22-24

Under the Microscope • Issue Fourteen 3

AcAdEMy INFORMATION

KSA TERM dATESTerm 5Monday 15th April 2013 Re-open to students

Monday 6th May 2013 Academy closed for May Day

Thursday 23rd May 2013 Last day of term

Friday 24th May 2013 Teacher Training Day

Term 6Monday 3rd June 2013 Re-open to students

Friday 19th July 2013 Last day of term

Sainsbury’s Active Kids VouchersPlease hand in your Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers before the closing date of May 22nd.

FINAL STAGES oF

BuILdING WORK The final stages of the building work and landscaping at KSA have been completed this term.The new PE facilities include a seven-a-side football and netball pitch and a 3G (third generation) futsal court. The staff car park is complete, as well as the avenue linking the primary and secondary phases and primary’s central courtyard. The primary building has undergone major refurbishments over the last year. One of

the halls has been revamped into a dining room with a serving area and small kitchen and the toilet blocks which date back to the 1940s have been demolished. A new roof, windows, heating system and lighting have gone in, along with new IT infrastructure which links primary to secondary’s network.As part of the £1.3m investment, all classrooms have had new whiteboards and the building has been decorated throughout.

Parent/carer contact detailsParents and carers are reminded to inform the Academy if any personal circumstances change, including address, home/mobile number and email address.

Resources for Learning & RevisionFor some extra study help at home, parents and students can use the following links:

Primary:http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/ (key stage 1 and 2)

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/

Secondary GcSE revision:GCSEPod – Students can now access more than 400 podcasts to aid their GCSE revision. The podcasts are priced from £1.95 per title or from £9.95 for a whole topic. Access the GCSEPod log-in page via the Academy’s website.


Primary House NewsTo celebrate National Spelling Day, the primary phase held an inter-house spellathon.All pupils were given 40 spellings to learn and were then tested on 20 words taken randomly from the list. There were prizes of 200 house points for first place and 100 points for second place, with the results as follows:

First place: Sanger (761 points)Second place: Hawking (684 points)Third place: Da Vinci (649 points)Fourth place: Franklin (648 points) Fifth place: Socrates (579 points)

HOuSE NEWS

Hawking’s Sixth Formers have been assisting younger students with their reading this term.After receiving training,

the Sixth Formers were paired up with students in years 7, 8 and 9 and spend time supporting them with their reading during the house’s community day.Not only does it benefit the younger students,

it also offers leadership opportunities to Sixth Formers.Ranveer Sahota is among those helping his peers. He said: “We have been in their position so we understand. They might find it easier to ask us something. It’s nice to be able to help out.”Hawking is holding its fundraising week at the end of April so if you have any ideas please speak to Miss Kedie.

Sanger got creative this term as forms started to think about ideas for their own Harlem Shake.Each form will record

footage which will then be judged by Sixth Formers, with Sanger stars awarded for the videos voted the best.In other house news, Charity rep Jospin Sebastian-Ramesh created a Valentine’s Day quiz in her spare time to raise money for Sanger’s nominated charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. She is also planning to hold a Sanger fundraising day in a church in the local community some time in May, with students running the stalls.She said: “Getting involved in things like this help us to understand what charity is and how we can help. I’m enjoying being the house charity rep because it develops your confidence when you do things like speaking in assembly.”Last year, Sanger raised the most money out of the five houses and Miss Sambrook is keen to top the leader board again. Anyone with any fundraising ideas should speak to her.

Hawking

Sanger

A student interviewed his peers about who inspires them as part of

an assembly to Hawking house.Olly Horne, who is a form captain, decided to create his own assembly after seeing Hawking 6’s student-led one last year. Gary Singh suggested the theme of inspiration and Olly and some other members of Hawking 5 were soon busy interviewing their peers about the people who inspire them. He then enlisted the help of English and media teacher Tom Preston to edit the footage so the final version could be

shown in assembly.Olly said: “The reason I wanted to do an assembly was to get our form a bit more involved in our house. We got a real mix of answers from people we spoke to – a couple of people said they are inspired by game designers and one person said her cheerleading coach, but most people said their mum and dad or grandparents. “I think the assembly went quite well – for most people it’s their first time speaking in front of an audience so it’s helps you to gain confidence and develop your speaking skills.”

Hawking Student Leads Assembly

Hawking

Olly

Jospin

Reading mentors with some of their mentees


HOuSE NEWS

Socrates took the lead in the whole-Academy Easter egg raffle and Rhea Siddall and Georgia Bishop have been instrumental in

the organisation of the fundraising event. Thanks to all those who donated eggs.

Stars of SocratesRhea Siddall and Liberty Luck have been put forward by Mrs Allan as the Stars of Socrates for their attitude and involvement in academy life. Mrs Allan said this about the pair:

Libby“Libby is a model student. She always contributes to house activities and whole-school projects, like Comenius. She also does lots outside of school. She’s a real un-sung hero.”

Rhea“Rhea gets involved in lots of the charity fundraising. She always works diligently in whatever she is asked to do. She is highly motivated.”

Rhea said: “I have enjoyed getting involved in the fundraising because I like helping people and I have had new experiences and learnt new skills. I have also gained more confidence in speaking to people.”

Members of da Vinci have been recording their exercise routines in logs to help track when and where they keep active, including walking

to school. There have been some interesting results and students have benefited from having an accurate picture of how active they are, or where more could be done.Competitions have been on-going in da Vinci, with points earned by each form. The winning forms across the Academy are to be rewarded with a trip to Alton Towers. Competitions have

included poster-making for World Peace Day and Jeans for Genes day.One of Da Vinci’s stars this term was Naomi Brown, who helped to make and sell cakes which raised £75 for Kidsaid. Well done Naomi.da Vinci were the winners of the very lively World Book Day quiz held in the library this term (read more on page 6).

Da Vinci Socrates

Naomi

World Book Day quiz winners

Franklin, along with the other houses, has been focussing on punctuality and has been awarding Champ badges to those students who make a

concerted effort to get to school on time.There have been weekly certificates and a punctuality cup awarded to forms with the fewest number of lates and there has been a prize draw for students who have not been late once since the start of term.

In February, Franklin 3 has the fewest number of lates and this term, Franklin 2 had three weeks in a row with zero lates. Lucy Stolarski (pictured) is one of Franklin’s attendance stars, with 100% punctuality since September.Among those who have made real improvements in their attendance are Chris Carmichael and Natcha Saunders (pictured). Chris said his punctuality has improved because he has been getting his things ready for school the night before.

Franklin

Chris & Natcha Lucy

Libby

Rhea

World Book Day was celebrated in style in both phases of KSA, with students keen to share their love of reading.In Primary, pupils were also marking World Literacy Day and the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen on April 2nd. They used his famous stories as inspiration for learning in maths and science and dressed as fairy tale characters at the end of the week.In Secondary, the five houses were pitted against each other during a very competitive literary quiz in the library. Student librarians Mykala Durkan and Leah McAllister also got involved and read out the final round of questions.

Da Vinci achieved the highest number of points and were crowned the winners – much to the delight of Head of House Hazel Dodd. The team consisted of Casie Hare, Lily Trkulja, Reece Trigg, Harry Ormshaw, Aaron Langley, Mrs Dodd, Mrs Upson and Mrs Mabbutt. Mrs Economou said: “I think we marked World Book Day in style. Holding events like this challenges people’s perceptions of libraries and how libraries can bring people together, especially on such a prestigious day.”The library also held a Big Brother-style eviction competition in which students had to vote to evict some of literature’s most popular characters. Students used the specially-made booth in the library to cast their votes, with the winner revealed as Harry Potter.

Students will take an active role in the development of the library thanks to the appointment of a team of young librarians.Students who were interested in the position had to complete an application form and were interviewed by Librarian Heidi Economou.Their tasks will include issuing and returning books, keeping the library tidy and promoting reading to fellow students. The student librarians can work towards bronze, silver and gold awards. Among the new appointees are Mykala Durkan and Leah McAllister (pictured). Leah said: “I love reading and I’m a member of the book club so I wanted to be a student librarian. It’s a chance to do something fun and to work with Mrs Economou.”The newly-appointed student librarians are: Mykala Durkan, Leah McAllister, Thomas

Larmour, Chloe Ingram, Liam Watts, Simon Kang, Rian Isgar, Ezri Mannion, Keely Rose Mulhall, Jade Tonks, Reece Trigg, Maisie Thirkill, Tayla Katebzadeh Shahidi, Sophie Neely, Maria Brindeu, Morgan McGrady, Amanpreet Kaur, Aleksandra Dietrich.


LIBRARy NEWS

Accelerated Reader AwardsThese pupils have worked hard to complete Accelerated Reader quizzes.Each of these pupils has completed 5 quizzes and are all awarded a certificate:

Naomi Brown Tyler HolmesNathaniel Farr Ebony NgMark Forbes Courtney Wangui NijhiaThomas Frost Emily osborneJoshua Helyer Harry PainterTamsyn Henderson Jack Palmer

The following pupils have also worked hard and completed 15 quizzes. These pupils have all earned not only a certificate but a reward which they will need to go to the library at break to collect.

Amy Kirby Chloe WhysallAngel Dyche Andzelika ParkarnaiteMark Salvador Valerie Adu AmankwahRebecca Tillsley

These pupils are on fire with their reading and quiz taking and have completed 35 quizzes. They have also earned themselves awards which again they will need to go to the library to collect.Leah McAllister Justin Ike

These pupils must have been doing nothing but reading as they have completed over 45 quizzes each. They also have awards that will need to be collected from the library.

Thomas Larmour Jade Tonks

Our final pupils must not have slept, eaten or gone out because all they have been doing is reading and taking quizzes, and both have completed over 100 quizzes!

Ezri Mannion Mohammad Usama

Finally we have another award for reading over a million words. This goes to:

Amy Kirby

Pupils can complete quizzes on the iPads in the library or at home via the link on the KSA website.

World Book day celebrations

18 Student Librarians Appointed

Bringing Languages & Literacy TogetherYear 7 have been putting their language skills to the test by producing their own Mr Men books, written in French.Students created some imaginative characters such as Madame Riche, who likes David Beckham but is not so keen on his wife or her singing skills. Mr Intelligent is an 80-year-old who loves tart and lives in a palace, while La Petite Madamoiselle Parfaite loves all things yellow, especially banana mousse.Students’ work is on display in the library.

Looking for a good book to read this Easter? Librarian Heidi Economou has the following recommendations: Preschool: The Great Easter Egg Scramble

by Timothy Knapman5-8 years: Usborne Easter Things To

Make & Do9-12 years: Charlie & The Chocolate

Factory by Roald Dahl13+ years: Eggs by Jerri SpinelliAdults: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

And for those who are still craving more Easter treats, why not try the following:Preschool: Hooray For Bread

by Allan Ahlberg5-8 years (boys): Monster & Chips

by David Connell5-8 years (girls): The Princess & The Peas

by Sarah Warburton9-12 years (boys): The Odds by Adam Perrott9-12 years (girls): Penny Dreadful is a Record

Breaker by Joanna Nadin

13+ years (girls): Infinite Sky by C J Flood13+ years (boys): Quantum Drop by Saci lloydAdults: The Woman Who

Went to Bed For a Year by Sue Townsend

For more reading inspiration visit: www.lovereading4kids.co.uk.


LIBRARy NEWS

Reading StarsSecondary students who borrowed the most number of books this term are:

Ezri Mannion: 20 books

Rhaymann Lans Tupaz: 19 books

Richard Foley: 17 books

Sophie Neely: 17 books

Gemma Green: 15 books

Tayla Katebzadeh-Shahidi: 15 books

Tommie Elliott: 14 books

Jade Tonks: 14 books

Maria Brindeu: 12 books

Justin Ike: 10 books

Our Primary reading stars are Heidi Hatton, Keeley Knell, and Lillie-Mae Chapman. All three have not only borrowed lots of books but have shared their enjoyment of books with others. Three Year 6 pupils who also deserve a mention are Dylan Mutebi, Maddison Foulke and Leilani Gilbey. They are all outstanding readers and as a reward for their achievements, they get to use the secondary library once a week to develop their reading skills and broaden their reading range. Fun facts: In just one month, the secondary library issued more than 700 books and primary issued more than 650. Keep reading, everyone!

Read For My SchoolYear 5 and 6 pupils took part in a national reading competition supported by the Department for Education which is aimed at encouraging more children to read for pleasure.Read For My School challenged pupils to read a book from eight categories within a certain amount of time and then answer a couple of questions online about what they have read.In total, the four classes read 223 books, which was a great achievement. The following pupils completed the task of reading eight or more books, one from each of the categories:

Tia Patrick Jarred Coles

Abin Raju Jessica Richards

Abigail Darnell Leilani Gilbey

Bernard Dec Shannon Garrett

The following four pupils were chosen by Mrs Economou for their excellent reviews:Maryprecious Ike Charlotte WhiteCharlie Hammond Taylor Weatherley

The winner for the most books read was Abin Raju who read 28 books – amazing!Abin will be entered into the national competition for the most books read. KSA’s entry for the most interesting review will be Bernard Dec for his review of Story Of Chocolate.

Recommended Reads


PRIMARy NEWS

Head Boy and Head Girl ReportDuring our time as Head Boy and Girl we have assisted in many award assemblies. For Children in Need we went round the school selling raffle tickets to all of the children so that they could win prizes. We regularly have meetings with Mrs Walker and Mrs Fallowell; during these meetings we talk about various subjects such as maths, literacy and reading. We give the pupils a chance to give their opinion about areas of subjects. In the near future we are planning to lead an

assembly about road safety, as we are having two visitors coming in to talk about it with us. On Wednesday afternoon we go over to the secondary phase and do activities with the librarians.

Dylan Mutebi and Maddison Foulke

‘World of’ weekPrimary held its very own ‘World of’ week to mark World Maths Day, World Literacy Day, World Book Day and World Science Day. To mark the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen on April 2nd, each year group based their learning around one of the author’s classic tales, such as looking at the maths and science around some of the scenarios presented in the books.For World Maths Day, pupils completed lots of different maths challenges and games, including online maths games against children all around the world. To celebrate World Science Day, there were lots

of different activities and investigations for pupils to get stuck into and

they also researched famous scientists and their work.

‘World of’ week culminated in a fancy

dress day on the Friday when everyone came dressed as a fairy tale character.

SATS WeekThe week commencing May 13th is SATS week so can parents of year 6 pupils please ensure their children are in school that week.


Bernard Shows Aptitude for MathsBernard Dec, who is in Year 6, has been having maths lessons with Year 9 students in the secondary phase, such is his talent for the subject.Staff made the decision to move him up after he took a Year 8 test when he was in Year 5 and did very well.Bernard said: “I have always enjoyed maths and now I’m learning lots of new things, like algebra, so I’m being challenged. I like mental maths and working things out quickly.“I like my classes and I think there’s a really nice community in the secondary phase. They have looked after me and I don’t get treated any differently.

“I have done two tests and I got 8B on one and 7A on the other.”Lorraine Taylor, head of maths in the secondary phase, said: “Bernard has worked hard to meet the challenge of working alongside students who are three years older than him. He is always very enthusiastic about getting involved in whole class discussions and enjoys discussing his ideas and solutions with others in the class.”

year 3 Transported Back to Victorian TimesYear 3 pupils were given a taste of what school was like during the Victorian era.Mr Murphy, their Victorian teacher, started the day with drill and a reminder of the possible punishments in school, such as caning. He then taught the class drill (exercises) and the

four Rs- reading, writing, ‘rithmatic’ and religion. Pupils also examined some Victorian artefacts and tried to work out what they were for. They ended the day by singing some Victorian hymns and playing a few 19th Century games.

Red Nose dayKSA was a sea of red to celebrate Red Nose Day. Mufti day collections raised just over £1,205. Thank you to all those who made a donation.

Breakfast clubThe Early Bird Breakfast Club is open for Reception to Year 6 children, from 7.45am to 8.50am every morning.Activities include games, arts and crafts, reading and construction, with breakfast included.The cost is £3.50 a day which must be paid weekly in advance – pick up a registration form from reception.Children are supervised at all times.

HomeworkA homework system is now in place for Reception through to Year 6. Homework is set based around the key skills curriculum (parents should all have a copy), alongside pupils’ learning logs. Homework is set on Thursdays and must be returned on Tuesdays.Class 5CW (pictured) had a 100% record in the first week the new homework system was launched, with every single pupil returning their homework on time. Well done!

The nursery children have been exploring the topic Up, Up and Away. They have learnt about astronauts and enjoyed their own space centre. The writing corner has been very busy with the children learning to write their names and they also made space name rockets.We have found out what makes hot air balloons go up and how kites fly and we made our own hot air balloons and kites.The children have enjoyed pretending to be a vet in the role play area and also how to look after our guinea pigs Saffy and Jessie. The snow has been very exciting – we even brought some inside for the children to explore and realise why it melts.

Tracy Sheridan – Nursery Teacher

NURSERY:

up, up & Away

RECEPTIoN:

A World of Imagination This term, our topic has been Let’s Pretend. Ladybird and Butterfly Class have been learning about stories, characters and using their imaginations. We have looked at the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Thumbelina, as well as looking at

superheroes and space.We have continued to practise our reading and writing and have become good at adding and subtracting.

Rebecca Walker – Reception Teacher

NuRSERy & REcEPTION


YEAR 1

Getting From A to BIn Year 1 we have been looking at the topic From A to B. As part of our topic we have been looking at our journey to school, which types of transport pass our school and have created modes of transport that float. Our favourite part so far was when we brought our bikes and scooters into school to complete a proficiency test. We had to complete a series of tasks to pass, such as allowing pedestrians to cross the road, going round a roundabout and cycling through cones. Although it was cold we had lots of fun!

Melissa Warman – Year 1 Teacher

YEAR 3

The Sound of MusicFor the past 6 weeks everyone in Year 3 (including Mr Hollwey and Mrs Leeming) have been learning how to play either the violin or cello. We have found out how to hold the instrument and bow, how to pluck the strings and use the bow and we have been practising lots of songs. We were excited about performing in front of all the parents for our concert finale. Parents paid another visit this term when they joined pupils for an afternoon of rainforest activities which we all enjoyed.

Caroline Leeming – Year 3 Teacher

LOWER ScHOOL NEWS

YEAR 2

Science PracticalsThis term we have been learning all about Africa. We have been reading the Handa stories and even designed our own kente cloth.We have also been to visit the Secondary phase to do a science investigation with Mrs Oliver. We had to find out what liquid was the best to stop a cut apple from turning brown. We really enjoyed our investigation and using the lab equipment. We also spent a week looking at Hans Christian Andersen and we wrote some fantastic character descriptions of the ugly duckling, some of which are on display in the rainbow corridor. Our book week culminated in a special fairy tale mufti day. What a great term we have had so far in Year 2! Claire Yarland – Year 2 Teacher


YEAR 4

Get InventiveWe have had a wonderful topic this half term, Machines and Inventions, in which we have investigated the lives of many famous inventors and their inventions. Pupils also thought about the design and creation of their own inventions.

YEAR 6

The Science Behind clothesThe pupils in Year 6 are working hard in preparation for the fast approaching SATs exams. However we managed to have a lot of fun during World Book Week. Pupils took part in challenges related to World Maths, Literacy and Science days; both virtually and within the classrooms. Our selected Hans Christian Andersen story focus was the Emperor’s New Clothes. Throughout the week pupils experienced science at the secondary school with Mrs Oliver where they had to carry out an investigation to see which material would be the best to use when making an inflammable outfit. Within maths, pupils used their design and mathematical skills to produce new outfits for the Emperor as well as learning the art of paper cutting (a Hans Christian Andersen craft technique) and producing silk

paintings. On the final day they were invited to dress up as fairy tale characters for which they made an enormous effort to impress. Overall the week was both an educational and enjoyable experience for Year 6.

Liz Blakeley – Year 6 Teacher


PRIMARy NEWS

YEAR 5

Our Place in SpaceThis term Year 5’s topic has been Our Place in Space and we have learnt about planets, stars, space shuttles and astronauts.The children have really enjoyed their work as much of it has been practical; we built rockets with Mr Scott from the secondary phase, built and tested space capsules and carried out science experiments to see how a lack of gravity would affect our bodies. We have also linked our literacy to space by writing astronaut diaries, science-fiction stories and planet fact files. In our art sessions we built paper mâché planets which we now have hanging in the classrooms and we made

tile prints of space scenes.We also celebrated ‘World Week’ when we marked world science, book and numeracy days as well as the birthday of Hans Christian Anderson. During this week we linked all of our work to the story of The Princess and the Pea. The children have worked extremely hard and should be proud of the progress they have made throughout the term – well done everyone!

Chris Woolhouse – Year 5 Teacher


Students Visit Site of WWII Normandy LandingsYear 8 students discovered more about the World War II Allied invasion of France during a trip to Normandy.The group stayed at the Château Beaumont education centre and paid a visit to Arromanche to see the remains of the artificial harbour built for D-Day. It was followed up with a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry, where students considered how the Normans came to England. They also paid their respects at the Normandy war cemeteries. French teacher Anne Reeve-

Mavrommatis, who led the trip, said: “The students were very solemn when we visited the war cemeteries – they were surprised by the number of unnamed graves and also that it included German graves.”The trip included a visit to the UNESCO site Mont-Saint-Michel and outdoor activities including a zipwire and a nightline. It finished with a French night including a catwalk show of French fashions and the sampling of frogs’ legs and snails.

Sixth Former Declan Oliver went along to support staff on the trip and helped to look after the younger students.Student Jordan Ori-Orison said: “The most interesting thing was experiencing the culture and seeing what France has to offer.”Jessica Morland-Nutthall added: “It’s good to visit France because you hear people talking and by listening to them, you can improve your own accent.”

FRENcH TRIP

Three Sixth Formers attended a lecture and conducted an investigation at the University of Cambridge after being invited to an open day.The university invited Year 12 students currently studying physics and maths at A Level and who achieved an A or A* in those subjects at GCSE. Three students attended the trip – Tesvin John,

Fabien Sutton and Jacob Wilkins – who were shown around several college buildings before attending a lecture by Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright about the science behind binocular and 3D vision. Later on, the students were able to use the facilities in the Cavendish Physics Laboratory to conduct an investigation into the motion of conical pendulums. KSA’s Science Specialist Project Manager, Louise Oliver, said: “This was an excellent event that was really inspirational for the students. It opened their eyes to the benefits of studying at a top university with fabulous facilities and it raised their aspirations, as they could see that there is no reason why they themselves should not make a successful application to the University of Cambridge.”

Year 11 students Mason Hoath and Joanna Steczynska will attend a residential course at the University of Cambridge to take part in a science master class.Science teacher Louise Oliver nominated them for the three-day course because they have demonstrated a talent for science and have consistently achieved high grades in their modular examinations. The programme is designed to encourage the brightest students to further develop their interest in the sciences in a stimulating environment and in the company of like-minded people.

Mason, who is taking physics and chemistry A Levels, said: “It’s a good opportunity to see what university life is like and how to prepare.”


ScIENcE

Top Maths and Physics Students Invited to

university of cambridge Open day

chemistry Students Study Nanotechnology

A Level chemistry students visited the University of Leicester to study new materials and nanotechnology.

The event, titled Hands Free and Hands On, gave students the opportunity to study the science behind technologies such as mobile phones. They

also attended an examiner session where they were given tips for exam success and revision as well as advice on what examiners look for.Other universities were in attendance to offer advice on higher education and the courses available.Science teacher Kalpana Patel, who accompanied the group, said: “An event like this gives students experience of chemistry outside the classroom and shows them it’s relevant to the modern technology they use.”

Congratulations to Ben Amos and Salvatore Fraterrigo who won an iPod shuffle in the quiz.

Science clubyear 6 & 7 Science clubMembers of the Science Club were joined by Year 6 pupils for the Crafty Raft challenge, for which they had to build paper rafts and see which could carry the greatest load. They also investigated the chemicals that are used to make fizzy sweets, used glycerol to produce bubble mixture, created salt solution rainbows and extracted copper as a metal from its ore. Science Club is open to new members from Year 7.

year 3 Investigate Sound WavesYear 3 paid a visit to secondary to investigate sound waves and their effects. Pupils conducted a series of experiments to demonstrate how sound waves can be generated by different vibrating objects. They made quacking ducks from plastic cups and string, watched the waves caused by oscillating tuning forks dipped in water, made musical instruments from test tubes filled with different levels of water and were amazed by the extraordinary sounds produced when a slinky spring was attached to string and held to their ears. The pupils also had the chance to see the different wave patterns produced on an oscilloscope by a signal generator.

Two Students Accepted for Science Master class at the university of cambridge

What do our students think about the comenius project?Ezri Mannion (Year 7)“When I had my French student staying with me, I tried to speak French to her and she would speak English to me so we could help each other improve. This term, I have been writing about the benefits of learning a language and the transferable skills you learn.”

Skye Brotherton (Year 7)“It’s helped me to understand other cultures and how they live. When my French student stayed

with me, I learnt she is just like me and we have stayed in

touch. Projects like Comenius help to build a bond between countries which may have been rivals in the past. I’m excited to see what’s in store when for us when we visit France later this year.”

Tom Wilkins (Year 10)“It’s about meeting new people. I had three students stay with me and I think it helped me to improve my French because now I know how they speak. You pick up on how they pronounce words. There weren’t any culture shocks – they were just like me. It has made me think about the wider world and I’d like to visit other countries.”


cOMMuNIcATIONS

Students developing Website to Showcase comenius ProjectsThe Comenius programme has continued to flourish this term, with students now working on the development of their own website.The international programme, which is backed by the British Council, aims to develop students’ personal skills, such as leadership and entrepreneurship, along with their understanding of other cultures. The Academy has been working with a French and German school and last year, KSA families hosted students from its partner schools.Students who have been chosen to take part in the Comenius programme are now working on the next stage of the project – the design and creation of a website that will feature their work. They are putting together a number of designs and there will be a vote to decide on the final version.Groups of students have also been busy producing content for the website, which includes reports on the benefits of learning a language. One group has already interviewed language teachers at KSA to find out the career

options available with learning a language. Others have spoken to family members who speak another language to examine how it has added to their lives.Other activities students will take part in through the programme include:• creating tourism advertisements • taking part in a canoeing descent on the

Ardèche river in France in 2013 or a half marathon near Stuttgart in Germany in 2014

• producing a documentary on their participation in the above events.

The theme of the Comenius project is Leading Ourselves to a Successful Future and French teacher Aine McAllister, who is leading the programme at KSA, said students are taking the initiative more and more as the project develops.She said: “The students’ skills are developing across many areas. They’re enthusiastic, motivated and are always looking for new challenges. They have become more independent and they are coming to me with ideas now.”

Six Word StoriesStudents have been honing their creative writing skills at an after-school group.To help develop their English skills, students are challenged with writing a story in just six words, using inspiration from photographs such as those below.Here is a selection of their work:

I was there, I saw it

Hope guided him through the darkness

Concentrate, we can beat the rest

You’ll never see what I see

You’ll never learn. You’ll never listen.

Death. Life. It is your choice.


MATHS & INFORMATION TEcHNOLOGy

Success in the uKMT Intermediate Maths challengeA number of students in years 6, 9 and 11 were awarded certificates after taking part in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. The Intermediate Challenge is aimed at the top third of students in Year 11 or below in England. The challenge involves answering 25 multiple choice questions in one hour and is sat in school under normal exam conditions. The top 40% of students nationally receive a gold, silver or bronze certificate.KSA students who received awards were:Silver: David Wilson (Year 11)Bronze: Rhys Alford, Ben Essam, Josh Clubley (all Year 11),

Jordan Ayre, Joe Smallman, Bailey Philp (Year 9) and Bernard Dec (Year 6).

Well done to those students.

Two Sixth Formers Taking STEP Maths course at the university of Warwick

Sixth Formers Christian Dobson and Euan Lindley have been attending university workshops in preparation for exams which are aimed at the top 5% of all A Level maths students in the country.

The pair are sitting the STEP maths exams in June and have been working with lecturers and students at the University of Warwick once a week in readiness for the notoriously tough exam.Christian must gain a certain grade to take up the offer of a place at the University of Cambridge, while Euan opted to take the exam in order to be better prepared for reading maths at university.

Christian said: “The questions are much more in depth than what we are used to and take much longer to solve – one question takes 45 minutes. At A Level, you just have to apply a method: with these questions you have to work out how to use the method. It’s a different way of tackling a problem.”

Maths competition at Loughborough universityTwo teams represented KSA at the recent Year 10 Mathematics Competition held at Loughborough University. With only eight places

available and a number of students wanting to take part, the maths department set a test to decide who should participate.The eight who were successful battled it out against other schools in the East Midlands area. They tackled a problem-solving round and a carousel round where they had to get the right

answer to be able to move on to the next question.

They were also given an area of maths they

were not familiar with – absolute function – and were tasked with

researching it before having a go. The final round was based around the theme of 2013 which included the Olympics.Miss Smith and Miss Keen accompanied the teams and there was much competition between the two, with 10B eventually gaining more points than 10A.The event was organised by the Further Maths Support Programme which promotes the study of further maths to young people.Miss Smith said: “Student feedback was that this was not the type of maths that they study to pass exams: it was more about thinking outside the box, rather than just applying formulas.”

Some of the winners


ART, MuSIc & INduSTRIAL dESIGN

Talent Show Auditions

clubs Information

Auditions for the next KSA Talent Show will take place next term so those who would like to share their gift should be sure to attend.Auditions are open to any budding singers, dancers, bands, magicians and performing arts students who might want to stage a short piece of drama or read a monologue.The winners of the show will go through to the town-wide talent show, The K Factor.Auditions for the show will take place on April 16th at 3.30pm in the theatre.The date of the show will be confirmed next term.

A new street dancing club is starting next term. An external teacher will be coming into the Academy to take the class on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Students will have the chance to go for bronze, silver or gold grades. See Mrs Panther-Howell if you are interested in attending.

Drama Club meets every Thursday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and after Easter, will be rehearsing for the summer show Alice in Wonderland.

There will be a free jam session on Tuesday 16th April and 22nd April in the music room, with experienced musicians from Intersales. Musicians of any ability are welcome, along with those who would like to try an instrument.

Finishing Touches Made to coursework PiecesThe talents of our A Level product design students can now be seen in the workshop with some impressive creations.Among them are some carefully crafted chairs by Tom Ashby and Sunatthida Phatrio.Bonnie Kangethe has designed a reading chair to be used in the primary phase and includes an area for storing books at the back.Sandeep Tara, Head of Design, Technology and Art, said: “This year we have seen a marked improvement in the overall standard

of students’ work in design and technology, none more so than

in A Level product design. Students have been designing a range of products to meet the specific needs of

a client to improve their overall quality of life. Bonnie in particular has designed

and is currently manufacturing a ‘reading chair’ to be used by primary phase pupils.

The finished outcome will hopefully improve the reading experience and allow pupils to read together in comfort.”

We congratulate them for all their effort and time spent perfecting their masterpieces.

Performing Arts Students

Tell the Tale of Brutal Barber Sixth Formers put their own spin on the story of legendary villain Sweeney Todd for their exam performance.Year 13 performing arts students staged Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street after adapting the script of the grisly story. For instance, in the original version, Mrs Mooney only has a minor part to play but the group decided to develop her character and the story of why her pies are said to be filled with cat meat.Cast member Ryan Ollett said: “Being able to adapt a script gives you the freedom to put your own take on it. We have wanted to do Sweeney Todd for a while now – it’s got a good plot with lots of dramatic anticipation.”


ETHIcS, HuMANITIES & BuSINESS

Real-Life Case Study

For Business StudentsYear 10 students who have been looking at ways to develop a hotel’s business paid a visit to Kettering Park Hotel to gain an insight into the decision-making process.The business and communications students took the trip to gather information for their controlled assessment in which they look at how to expand a hotel’s offer, either through introducing wedding packages, opening a spa, or hosting business conferences. Students met staff and quizzed them on a range of issues, such as the hotel’s unique selling point.

Jason Mitchell-Bunce, Head of Ethics, Humanities and Business, commended the students, saying: “Their questioning was on par with the best from any group we have taken in the past.”Student Megan Marshall said: “It was really good to go on a trip that is directly useful for what we are studying.”

Students were urged to think about the strength of communities during a focus on Holocaust Memorial Day.History teacher Marissa Wright told students that approximately six million Jews were killed during World War Two. To help them imagine the scale of the numbers killed, she told them that around 700,000 people live in Northamptonshire. Sophie Stokes and Amiirah Nuur read extracts from different pieces of literature written about the subject. They explained how it started with Jews being subjected to rules, such as being forbidden from using theatres and swimming pools.Students heard extracts from Anne Frank’s diary and were reminded that genocide has also occurred in more modern times, such as during the conflicts in Rwanda and Bosnia during the 1990s.Mrs Wright said: “History tells us that communities which have lived peacefully together for years can turn against each other with murderous intent. Think about your community – this school is a community so think about how we can be friends together.”In July a group of year 9 and 10 GCSE history students will visit the former concentration camp Auschwitz as part of the unit, Life in Nazi Germany.

year 7s Bring castles to LifeYear 7 students who were tasked with building their own castles during the half term holiday produced some impressive models. The group is currently studying the Middle Ages and as part of a prelude to a Norman castle assessment, students were asked to research castles from this period and try to replicate one on a smaller scale.Jasper Osborne’s creation was particularly inventive – he designed a pop-up castle which even featured a poem about castles on the front cover of the book.Others who also got stuck into the project were Naomi Brown and Ben Richards (pictured).

Ben’s creation featured a watch tower and a drawbridge.He said: “I did some research and decided on the type of castle I wanted to build and what size it needed to be for me to be able to bring it into school. It took about two days to build.”Naomi spent about four days making her model, building papier mâché around a jug to create the main mound on which to site her castle.

coastline Studies Inform Geography courseworkGCSE geography students studied the Norfolk coastline as part of this term’s coursework. The group spent two nights at Overstrand Hall Kingswood Centre in the north of the county where they visited five beaches.They examined each beach’s unique features, looked for signs of erosion and detailed the coastal management schemes, such as rip rap. They also compiled a slump analysis and then wrote up their results.There was time back at the centre for some outdoor activities, which students enjoyed.

understanding the Water cycleFollowing a lesson on the water cycle, Year 7s were asked to write a poem describing the journey of a water droplet through that cycle. Here is one excellent example by Olivia Seymour:

My JourneyLiving life as a water droplet isn’t easy, Working through all the different weathers, When the fog is freezing and the wind gets breezy.

Turning into vapour ‘cause of a little heat, Don’t panic much, it’s only evaporation, But I can’t get too cold or I’ll turn into sleet.

Getting denser and denser as the day goes on, I’m chilling with my friends high in the sky, We’re starting to form a cloud – that’s condensation.

Precipitation gets us all feeling chilly in the sky, I can feel myself turning back into a droplet, Getting closer to the ground as we move from up high.

This time I’m absorbed through roots, Then in almost no time at all, I’m transpired from the tip top shoots.

It’s hard work being a water droplet, But surface run-off is always fun, Then before we know it, here comes the sun.


PE

Basketball Team Wins the LeagueKSA is proving to be a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court with another team winning the league.This time, it was the Year 9 boys’ basketball team which was victorious. The players have had an excellent season, beating sister academy Brooke Weston, Latimer Arts College and Prince William School along the way. The players involved are Chris Lampard, Adam Bridgman, Owen Singh, Luke Aridegbe, Tate Barnes, David Downing, Liam Buckland, Harry Oldham, Bailey Greetham, Lauson Kenyon and Danny Hewitt.It follows a two-year unbeaten run by the Year 11 team which won both the district tournament and league again last year.

Girls’ Football Team district championsKSA saw another girls’ football team win the league this term – this time it was the turn of the Year 9 and 10 players.They played five games against teams in the Kettering/Corby district, winning three to become champions. Special mention must go to Year 8s Alicia Pickering and Katie Deacon, the youngest players who faced Sixth Formers when they competed against senior teams.Other players making up the team are Erin McNamara (captain), Megan Wilkinson,

Ocean Davies-Dolman, Victoria Firman and Jessica Firman. Top goal scorer was captain Erin McNamara.PE teacher Angela Charlton said: “It was snowing for some of their matches so they were freezing but they just got out there and worked hard.”It follows the success of the Year 7 and 8 girls’ team just before Christmas, who were also crowned district champions.

Old Trafford Trip for PE StarsStudents who have demonstrated good behaviour and outstanding effort in PE were treated to a trip to Old Trafford to watched Manchester United play.Head of PE Lee Haywood secured 12 tickets through the club’s junior ticket scheme for the game against Southampton on January 30th.He chose the following students thanks to their attitude in lessons: Tom ConnellyEthan BeadsworthVictoria FirmanEllie BellamyLuke AridegbeBilly SleightErin McNamaraDeclan McInniesMegan WilkinsonChristy Sebastian RameshJarrod Gregory

Other PE NewsThe Year 11 basketball team was given tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the NEC this term as a reward for another impressive season. The team which won both the district tournament and league again this year comprises Tom Martins, Balazs Komarniczky, Bradley Harris-Bruce, Harry Camozzi, Mason Hoath, Joe Edwards and Dennias Muswere.

The PE department has a new member of staff starting after Easter, Mr Liam Feely, who will be starting up a rugby team in each year group.Judo Club is really starting to take off with 14 people registered and having got their free judo kit and licence. The PE department is now in the process of trying to get them graded, on the recommendation of the coach.


SIXTH FORM

Preparing for university Studies

Open university ModulesRecently a number of students opted to participate in Open University modules. Open University modules are projects set at degree level which require self-study on your chosen topic. The results of your studies are assessed with online examinations which require the application of what you have learnt.One student, Christian Dobson, completed the

OU module titled The Story of Maths, which is worth 10 points. He said: “It’s opened my eyes to a diverse range of mathematical areas and a new way of looking at problems.” Christian is looking to study maths at one of the most prestigious universities, Cambridge.Another student, Shannon Mulvey, studied the module titled Understanding Cancers and she

said: “The self-study really enhanced my ability to understand my A-level subjects and also gives me great topics to talk about at university interviews.”All eighteen people who participated passed the course – this is a great achievement and proves to universities that they are great candidates.Jatinder Singh – Sixth Former

Busy Term for the charity committeeThe Sixth Form charity committee has had a busy few weeks, selling Red Nose merchandise to the rest of the Academy to raise funds for Comic Relief.Alex York (pictured), who is head of the committee, organised the ordering of the Red Nose goods and helped to sell them with other Sixth Formers. The committee also organised a Harlem Shake, with students paying £1 to participate. At the time of writing, KSA has raised just over £1,200.

They also sold Christmas cards last year to raise money for a cancer charity.Alex said: “I have enjoyed the responsibility of being head of the charity committee. I have liked organising things and seeing it all come together successfully.”

As we move ever closer to the June exams, Year 13 students are working towards their individual university offers. However, before acquiring these offers students must face many choices and trials provided through the UCAS application system. One of the biggest choices a student must make at the beginning of the year is to choose the university course they would like to study. For some, the university choices are made on convenience in terms of commuting from home, whilst others base their choices on gaining more independence as well as the quality of teaching provided by the individual universities. The selection of universities to apply to is only one step in the UCAS process and the next is a challenge to say the least. Just like applying for a job, the UCAS application form requires you to write a personal statement about what makes you an ideal candidate. For most students this often involves countless redrafts in order to perfect a concise, unique and charismatic account of themselves. Year 13 form tutors were always on hand to help guide students and the Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Watson, provided plenty of resources, such as example personal statements. Currently, Year 13 students are thoroughly researching what each university has to offer, which may include quality of accommodation, bursaries, university scholarships and any additional grants on offer. In order to gain financial support from the government students must also apply to student finance either through the online website or through the post. Universities also generally provide financial support in the form of maintenance loans which, unlike a tuition loan, are generally paid off in larger instalments. Where some of our students are going:Elisha Taylor: Studying midwifery at Northampton University.Sunatthida Phatrio: Studying architectural technology at Nottingham Trent University.Jack Marlow: Studying Popular Music Performance at the Tech Music School in West London Perry Brown: Accepted to study biological sciences at Northampton, Bedford, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Anglia Ruskin universities.Luke Pennifold: Studying industrial design at Loughborough University.

Arandeph Singh-Bath – Sixth Former

christian Offered Place at the university of cambridgeSixth Former Christian Dobson has been accepted to read maths at the University of Cambridge.Christian applied to Caius College and sat two 30-minute interviews during which he had to solve four maths problems.Christian, who is studying maths, further maths, physics, economics and English literature A Levels, is now focussed on achieving the grades he needs to confirm his place this summer.He said: “When I got the confirmation letter I was very happy because the university is one of the best in the world.”Jane Watson, Assistant Vice Principal for Sixth Form, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Christian and his achievements so far – gaining five As at AS Level and finishing his maths A Level ahead of time. He’s already achieved an A* in maths. “He’s at the University of Warwick for a 14-week period where he is studying for advanced exams in maths and he has also attended a number of master classes there.”

Ryan Pursues dream of Theatre WorkRyan Ollett is going on to study musical theatre at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Ryan, who is taking performing arts, media and English literature A Levels, said he applied for the university because of its reputation. He said: “The Guardian recently voted it the third best university for musical theatre. It mainly covers practical performance and rehearsal and you work on your technique in preparation for going into the industry. In the final year, you get agents coming to see your performances.”


NEXT STEPS

Have you Sorted Out your Next Steps?Now is the time for older students to start thinking about their next steps to ensure they are fully prepared for life when they leave school. Have a look at the list below to make sure you are on track.

year 11s Going to Tresham/Further Education:Have you…• Been on your induction day?• Accepted your offer by replying to the college?• Thoroughly researched your course? Is it definitely what you want to do? Will it take you to

where you want to go and what you want to do?• Worked out what you need to do to stay on track and achieve the grades you need?• Thought about signing up for the National Citizen Scheme?

year 11s Staying on at KSA:Have you…• Investigated the subjects you are thinking of taking? Will the combination of subjects you are

taking lead you to where you want to go?• Worked out a plan to help you achieve the grades needed to stay on in the sixth form?• Thought about signing up for the National Citizen Scheme?

year 12s Going on to Higher EducationHave you…• Started looking at universities?• Started thinking about what course you would like to take and what grades you will need?• Researched when universities are holding open days and made plans to attend?• Thought about signing up for the National Citizen Scheme?

year 13s Not Going on to Higher EducationHave you...• Registered on the Apprenticeship website?• Had an interview with TimelyAdvice?• Written a CV to help you stand out from the crowd?• Created a plan of action to achieve the best grades possible?

Apprenticeship

case StudyKSA’s IT technicians, Kyle Burke and Josh Slater, are taking an IT practitioner apprenticeship course at Tresham College while working four days a week at the Academy.The pair were offered the apprenticeship after they finished Year 11 and nearly two years later, they say it has supplemented their studies while giving them work place experience.They completed their level 2 course in just one year instead of two and are due to finished their level 3 course in the summer. To do the level 3 course, they needed five GCSEs or equivalents including English, maths and IT.Kyle said: “The benefits of doing an apprenticeship is that it backs up what you learn at college. We wouldn’t have learnt as much if we’d just gone to college. It’s also made us more mature and we’ve learnt about the world of work in general.“My advice to anyone starting an

apprenticeship is just to get on with whatever you are asked to do – you have to build up your skills and the longer you work, the more you’re trusted to do things.”

Have you……signed up to the National citizen Service? Open to Year 11 and 12 students, this government programme offers young people the chance to:• Meet other young people and tackle outdoor

challenges on an exciting residential week away from home

• Join with local businesses and leaders to learn new skills for work and life

• Make their mark by getting involved with local volunteering projects

NCS takes place over several weeks during the school summer holidays. It includes a residential at PGL outdoor pursuit centre, a week at university and a project in the local community. Don’t be bored this summer holiday – visit

www.ncsem1.org.uk to find out more or see TimelyAdvice in the library. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis so make sure you apply soon.

Students who are not planning to go to university can sign up to receive alerts about apprenticeships in this area. Students can register at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk for details of vacancies. The website www.jobs4you2.org.uk is another useful reference point as it lists vacancies for jobs with training in the local area.Anyone who like any further next steps/careers advice can contact a member of the Timely Advice team by emailing Avril Bartley-Smith on [email protected] or drop into the library and leave your name.

Black Ties Awarded to Exemplary StudentsStudents who have demonstrated an excellent attitude to their studies and school life have been awarded a black tie in recognition of their efforts.Learning mentors have the opportunity to nominate students based on their academic achievement, community involvement, contribution to school life and extra-curricular activities.The following students received a black tie in the latest round:Franklin: Georgia Bishop, Sophie Stokes and Claudia BarrDa Vinci: Bree Streather, Reece Trigg, Adam Smith and Myles Tew

Hawking: Jess Mutton, Dylan Birk and Sacha CaseSocrates: Liberty Luck and Martha ReynoldsSanger: Taylor WhithamStudents who are nominated but are unsuccessful in their applications are given feedback as to what they could do to receive a black tie next time round. Taylor said: “Having a black tie makes you stand out as an individual and makes you feel good about yourself because you know you’ve achieved something.”Dylan added: “It makes you feel proud because you’ve worked hard. It’s nice to be recognised.”

daisy Recognised at Northamptonshire carers Awards

Daisy Helsdown received an award at a special ceremony held to celebrate young carers in Northamptonshire.The selfless Year 10 student has helped to look after her five-year-old sister Grace since her mum Donna developed a serious back problem which means she now has trouble walking and

finds household jobs difficult.Daisy plays an invaluable role by helping

to get Grace ready for school, cooking dinner, putting Grace to bed and doing other

jobs around the house when needed.Her mum nominated her in the Northamptonshire Carers Awards and they both attended a special ceremony at Rushton Hall, where Daisy was awarded second place in the Jane Roebuck Young Carer of the Year category. As well as her award, she received two Saints tickets and £45 in WHSmith vouchers.Daisy said: “It was an honour to even be shortlisted and to be there. When I got the letter in the post to say I’d been nominated, I was so shocked. I started crying when I read

what Mum had said about me.”Daisy is a member of a Young Carers group, which offers her advice, support and trips out.She said: “Mum’s condition has definitely made us closer as a family. Being a carer is just something you get on with: if I can do anything to help, then I will.”Miss Helsdown said: “Daisy was only 11 when I first had problems with my back, and Grace was only 18-months-old. She was like a little mum as well as a sister to Grace – she was changing nappies as well as looking after me. Nothing is ever too much for her but she never looks for any thanks.“Daisy has been my rock – I think they broke the mould when they made her.”

Turning dreams into a Reality

Honda brought its School of Dreams programme to KSA to inspire students and give practical advice on how to turn dreams into reality.The two-day workshop saw a group of students take part in a number of challenges to develop their personal learning and

thinking skills. They were encouraged to approach problems in different ways to try to find a solution, in line with Honda’s philosophy that ‘success is

99% failure’. It culminated with a project in which they had to consider what they

would like to change in their world and how they would go about it. Students gave a presentation outlining their idea, how they would market it and how they would test it. KSA can then apply for £500 funding from the School of Dreams towards the cost of one of the projects. The workshop was delivered with help from staff at Kettering’s Richard Sanders Honda to nine to 13-year-olds, including pupils

from Millbrook Junior School. Claudia Barr was among those who took part in the workshop.

She said: “It showed me that when you set yourself a goal, you shouldn’t give up even if it gets tough. They also told us to focus on the details of

things, even the smallest of things, as that can make all the difference.”


AcAdEMy NEWS

KSA Hosts Brooke Weston Trust dance Show

KSA joined forces with sister academies Brooke Weston and Corby Business Academy to present the third joint dance showcase.It was held for the first time at KSA on Tuesday 26th March and included pieces which students have been working on for some months.KSA’s Year 9 dance leaders performed a commercial dance piece while the Year 10 BTEC group performed a street dance routine. The evening also included a contemporary piece by Sixth Former Ryan Ollett.

Fundraising for TanzaniaNineteen students who are going to Tanzania on a four-week volunteer project are busy organising fundraising events.Each student has to raise around £4,000 to go on the 2014 trip. They will be accompanied by staff members Grace Smith and Katie Trevor and have been meeting every Friday to plan their fundraising campaign. One idea is to hold a prom show at KSA with local hairdressers, dress/tuxedo hire companies and beauticians. Another idea is to do a car wash for staff during their next training day.There have been lots of individual fundraising efforts too – Reece Trigg (with help from his mum) produced a selection of Mother’s Day cards to sell to students and staff.

Focus on Higher EducationTalks given by graduates as part of KSA’s first University Week were well attended by students.There was a week-long focus this term on higher education, with KSA staff giving talks to Sixth Formers and Year 11 students about their degrees and subject areas. It covered courses that are new to students as well as subjects they already study in school. Science teacher Jyotika Mistry was among those who discussed her degree. She said: “I spoke about careers in science and doing a university course in BSc Biomedical Sciences. I talked about my experiences at university and the paths and careers that biomedical sciences could lead to, such as pathology with the NHS, medical microbiology and working in industry with a top pharmaceutical company. I valued the importance of completing an industrial placement if offered within the degree, as it helps to acquire skills and knowledge to equip you for a role in science. I had the opportunity to work at GlaxoSmithKline during my third year. I also highlighted that biomedical science could be a route to getting into medicine.”Gifted and talented students in years 9 and 10 got involved with the university information morning for families, by researching different universities and producing displays for parents. Maths teacher Sophia Parkinson and English teacher Tom Preston have organised the events to ensure students are more informed about their options. Miss Parkinson said: “The idea is to inspire students and provide information to families about going to university. We want to show younger students in Key Stage 3 and those in Key Stage 4 why it’s important to get good grades and what it can take you on to. We want to give them the information earlier, instead of waiting until Sixth Form, because there are a lot of misconceptions about going to university.”

Philanthropy Project Launched at KSAStudents have been urged to help vulnerable people in their community through the international Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).George Macpherson, the YPI Schools Coordinator, gave an assembly to a group of Year 10 students whose names were put forward for the project by heads of houses.Their aim is to work in small groups to identify a local charity and then make an inspiring and persuasive presentation about their chosen cause. The best ones will go through to a final within the Academy and the winning group will receive £3,000 for their charity.Mr Macpherson introduced the project by asking them to consider what philanthropy is and gave some examples of some well-known philanthropists such as Bill Gates and Mother Teresa.

He told them: “Choose one social issue that you want to do something about. I can’t urge you strongly enough to go and visit your chosen charity because then it stops being just a word and becomes a person and someone whose name you know.This project is an opportunity to show off how creative you are and how dedicated you are to your own community. Philanthropy is not just about money – it’s about giving your time and talents to find solutions to problems in our society. All of you are capable of achieving change.”


AcAdEMy NEWS

One of the speakers shows how going to university helped him to travel the world

AcAdEMy NEWS

Kettering Science Academy Primary PhaseWindmill Avenue, Kettering, NN15 7EA. Tel: 01536 532700

Kettering Science Academy Secondary PhaseDeeble Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire. NN15 7AA. Tel: 01536 532700

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Activity Focus of Club Target Year groups/stages Day Time Location

Punjabi Not for beginners All years Monday 3.30.-4.30 COM1.04

Making IT Better Support KS5 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 EHB 0.12

Sorting Out the Past Revision/intervention KS4 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 EHB 1.06

Sorting Out the Past Revision/intervention KS4 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 EHB 1.03

Sorting Out the Past Revision/intervention KS4 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 EHB1.05

Doing the business Business and economics support KS4/5 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 EHB 0.12

Comenius Preparation work for Comenius events Selected students from Years 8-10 Tuesday 3:30-4:30 Meet in Comms

KS3 French Power up For students wishing to catch up or power ahead Yr. 7-9 students taking French Tuesday 3:30-4:30 Meet in Comms

KS3 German Power up For students wishing to catch up or power ahead Yr. 7-9 students taking German Tuesday 3:30-4:30 Meet in Comms

Chess club Fun and new skills Any Tuesday 3.30-4.30 Meet in Science

GCSE Science revision/coursework Improving grades Years 9, 10 and 11 Tuesday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

AS/A2 Science revision/coursework Improving grades KS5 Tuesday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

Talent show rehearsal All taking part Tuesdays 3.30-4.30 Theatre

GCSE Graphic Products Additional GCSE Year 10 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Textiles Technology Additional GCSE Year 10 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Resistant Materials Development of CW Year 11 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Art Targeted intervention Year 11 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Art Targeted intervention Year 11 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Photography Targeted intervention Year 11 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

F1 Challenge in Schools STEM initiative Year 8 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Hospitality Development of CW Year 11 Tuesday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Humanities Revision/intervention KS4 Tuesday 3.30-4.30 EHB0.13

GCSE Maths Revision Years 10-12 Tuesday 3.30-4.30 Meet in MIT

Jam Music Session Come and have a jam with other musicians All years Tuesday 3.30-4.30 Music room

Street and break dance Try something new All years Wednesday 3.30-4.30 Dance Studio

KS3/GCSE Science intervention Improving grades Years 9, 10 and 11 Wednesday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

AS/A2 Science revision/coursework Improving grades KS5 Wednesday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

Science revision/coursework Improving grades Years 9, 10 and 11 Thursday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

AS/A2 Science revision/coursework Improving grades KS5 Thursday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Science

Yr 11 English Intervention Improving grades KS4 - INVITED PUPILS ONLY Thursday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Comms

Yr 8/9 English Intervention Improving grades KS3 - INVITED PUPILS ONLY Thursday 3.30-4.45 Meet in Comms

Doing the business Business and economics support KS4/5 Thursday 3:30-4:30 EHB 0.12

Warlords Strategy KS3/4/5 Thursday 3:30-4:30 EHB1.03

Architectural Model Making Skills development KS3 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

Decorative Textiles Skills development KS3 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

STEM Club STEM initiative KS3 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

GCSE Photography Targeted intervention Year 12 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

F1 Challenge in Schools STEM initiative Year 9 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

Healthy Eating in Schools Skills development Year 7 to 13 Thursday 3:30-5:00 Meet in AMI

Dance Club All years Thursday 3.30-4.30 Dance Studio

Spanish For beginners All years Thursday 3.30-4.30 COM1.08

Cliffhangers All years Thursday 3.30-4.30 Library

Drama Club Rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland All taking part Thursday 3.30-4.30 Theatre

GCSE French Power up For students wishing to catch up or power ahead Yr. 10 and 11 students taking French Friday 3:30-4:30 Meet in Comms

GCSE German Power up For students wishing to catch up or power ahead Yr. 10 and 11 students taking German Friday 3:30-4:30 Meet in Comms

Judo Practice/Fun/Fitness all years Friday 3.30-4.30 sportshall

Homework Club All years Mon-Fri 3.20-4.30 Library

Geography revision Intervention/revision - as invited KS4 Various 3:30-4:30 EHB1.08

Science club Fun and new skills Years 6, 7 and 8 Wednesday 3.30-4.30 Meet in ScienceSports clubs to be confirmed after Easter

m croscopeunder the - home - kettering science academy the microscope 14.pdf · happy easter! we...

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